by Foster Harlfinger, Contributing Writer
David (Joel Kinnaman) drives to the hospital to visit his wife mere hours before she is scheduled to give birth. Just as David wheels into the darkly lit parking garage, an unnamed passenger with a loaded gun whips open his backseat door before taking a seat. With a blood-red blazer to match his cheaply dyed hair, sweat dripping down his face, and a bug-eyed stare, our devilish antagonist is played — of course — by the wonderfully enigmatic Nicolas Cage.
What follows is a so-called game of cat and mouse in which David acts as a reluctant chauffeur for his mysterious passenger’s whims. For many, a manic performance from Cage is all they need to be sold on this film, and Sympathy for the Devil contains more than enough shenanigans from Cage to satisfy his fans. In fact, the otherwise serious nature of the script suggests that director Yuval Adler knew how to take advantage of his performer, letting him go “full Cage” with a handful of memorable line readings and eye-bulging expressions. One standout sequence sees Cage give an impromptu song-and-dance performance as Alicia Bridges’ “I Love the Nightlife” blares from the Roadhouse Diner jukebox. In other words, it’s a Nic Cage movie.
As a film, Sympathy for the Devil is a surprisingly competent thriller, with a skillful, understated lead performance from Kinnaman. Though the film can feel like a stylistic rip-off of Collateral or Nightcrawler with its late-night, neon vibes, Adler’s direction remains largely successful. The first act, while slow, builds a considerable amount of tension between our two leads. Who is this loose-cannon passenger, and what does he want?
The highlight of the film undoubtedly comes from its half-hour sequence at the Roadhouse Diner. Filled with moments of authentic tension and black comedy, this is where Adler’s direction excels, even if most audience members will have experienced the tropes a million times over. Once the third act hits, however, the film attempts to answer a few of its open questions and loses much of its tension it had built throughout its first two acts.
While enjoyable enough, the film’s lukewarm ending leaves something to be desired in the way of narrative payoff. Were it not for Cage’s expectedly campy performance, the film might not be worth recommending. As it stands, Sympathy for the Devil remains a clichéd yet watchable thriller with a highly entertaining performance at its center.
Rating: Low Side of Liked It
Sympathy for the Devil is currently available on VOD
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